Sun 24 Sep 2023
Today saw Paviors Academy play their first round fixture of the RFU National Colts Cup, at home against Doncaster.
Last year had seen the Academy progress through the first rounds to reach the last 32 in the country but as personnel changes from year to year it’s always hard to judge your current standing.
The overnight rain and wind had abated and although we had a wet pitch the conditions were pretty good.
The Academy, at least on paper, have a squad of 35 players but it’s fair to say that attendance has been mixed and perhaps a revision of that number is required. We had 20 players available for this fixture but two late cry-offs and an injury during the warm saw that drop to 17. This caused a bit of head scratching for the coaching team who were forced into playing two of their starting back rowers in the centre and on the wing.
Doncaster had travelled fully loaded with 7 substitutes, and although not large looked well drilled.
For once our usual lethargy from the kickoff didn’t materialise and we dominated the first quarter, having the ball ripped from us whilst in the act of scoring before eventually kicking a penalty to go 3-0 up.
Again we went on the attack but after a turn over in the Doncaster half, a knock on in open play by Donny was missed by the referee and they broke through a hole in our backs to score their first try, understandable considering the unfamiliarity with each other - 3-7.
Re-establishing our dominance we forced a couple of penalties in quick succession, the first was wide but the second made it 6-7.
From the resultant kick off we failed to secure the ball (something of a pattern) and after some straight running Donny scored almost immediately to make it 6-14. We also lost a player to injury during this period.
Donny were now in the ascendancy and we conceded a third try not long after to go further down 6-19. In truth we were tiring and clinging on for half time. Donny should have had a fourth try but the referee missed the grounding and ruled it help up, which allowed us to go in at half time only 13 points down despite being under the cosh.
We started the second half with renewed energy but soon picked up a yellow card having been put on a team warning and Donny kicked the penalty 6-22.
Donny finally got their fourth try and the tie was now effectively over at 6-29.
However, Donny picked up a yellow themselves and this seemed to inspire us to greater efforts, with Will Mason barreling over from close range to get our first try which Ben converted 13-29. Unfortunately we suffered a further injury meaning the 15 still standing had to see out the game.
That said, Donny began to lose a bit of composure, receiving a second yellow card before we scored again through Bobby Johnson to close the gap to 20-29 with 10 minutes left. Could we do it against the odds?
Well the answer was no, as we switched off at the kick off and allowed Donny in again (with their No.8 converting to run salt in the wound!) - 20-36.
There was time for us to score again, and what was the best try of the game too, a flowing move from our own 22 with some neat inter passing and off loading before Toyan finished it off - where had that been all game?
So the game finished 25-36 and in fairness with all they had to contend with the lads can hold the heads high to have only lost by 11 points. All 17 stuck in there and battled hard and they deserve much credit but unfortunately that’s the cup run over before it began.
Next week away to Matlock.
